From the Touchlines: Wilko axe not enough

Around about lunchtime in Bath, England coach Brian Ashton finally decided to go for broke, do the unthinkable and axe the former wonderkid of English rugby, Jonny Wilkinson.

There's no denying that replacing him with the new wonderkid in Danny Cipriani was the right choice and perhaps a tad overdue after some lacklustre displays in this Six Nations from the Newcastle fly-half - not least of all his virtual no-show against Scotland. But it's unfair that Wilko should be the sole scapegoat from that match. How on earth Ashton made just a solitary change after such an abject performance is completely baffling.

Wing Lesley Vainikolo looked like a player learning the rules - which he is - and made three or four absolute clangers before half-time. How he stays in the side ahead of Mark Cueto, James Simpson-Daniel or Josh Lewsey is absolutely extraordinary.

Then there's the Newcastle midfield of Toby Flood and Jamie Noon who lacked any imagination, with the usually hard-hitting Noon even lacking that against the Scots. And to round off the backline misery, Iain Balshaw's still there.

So, looking at it, Ashton's made one good call in replacing Wilkinson and giving nightclub regular Cipriani his first start (you can be sure he'll be steering clear of London's W1 this week!) but he's missed the chance to do something radical and save a job which may no longer be his after the weekend.

Was Ashton right to axe Wilko and is Cipriani the man to replace him? What would your England XV be - are there other players you'd replace? We want to hear your comments so post them below...

Comments

[Berkshire Taff]

I think England need to keep Jonny in the team for a few more years. Afterall, Wales does want to Grand Slam again next year!!

[SUE]

ASHTON GO AWAY COME BACK ANOTHER CENTURY!!!!

[SUE]

I think Ashton lost his marbles for getting rid of Johny Wilkinson. With out Johnny England will never be able to reach at the Finals in 2007 world cup. Only Johnny make the team won again!!! So what if he did not kick the ball last week end how about the others.......Ashton better tender your resignation...
and learn managment style....

At least Johnny knows how to win a world cup and score 1000+ points....

You cannot even pick the right members of the team let alone think of winning!!!

[Monkers]

What's everyone going on about? This is the best possible result for Wilkinson. It means he can now focus on his game and get back to playing his best. And for God's sake, he's not even 30 yet so there's plenty of rugby still to come from him. As Wilko said yesterday, the likes of Mike Catt played their best rugby in their 30s. Let's hope Jonny can do the same thing.

[bobby]

Ashton your days are numbered - no more than 4.

Jonny you will be back.

[mike lockwood]

What a knee jerk reaction by Ashton.To axe Wilkinson in an effort to placate the press was cowardly and pathetic. Jonnys had bad games before but not as many as the other choices.By all means start with someone else for a change but keep Jonny on the bench for when it all goes wrong. Englands problem again was no gameplan.We have the troops but no stategy.

[Tom]

Poor Jonny, the whole team was awful and Ashton drops just one man. I am a fan of Cipriani, but Jonny will be back. So many more for the chop though, Ashton included. Gloucester fans must be happy that they get rid of Les and Balshaw and keep sinbad!

[zandra]

think it is Brian Ashton who needs replacing.

[splodge]

It's a sad day for english rugby !!

[JENNY]

LAY OFF JONNY. HE'S A LEGEND AND HE'LL COME BACK STRONGER THAN EVER!!!!!!!!

[Stuart White]

What a joke. There are some fundamental selection mistakes. We have nothing going forward and we are a joke in defence. We need the best winger in the WORLD, James Simpson-Daniel in the side and we need the safest fullback in world rugby, Josh Lewsey in the side. But most of all we need a decent coach and we need Ashton GONE !!

[RichB]

don't get why only wilkinson's been dropped. realise why he's been dropped but did i watch a different game to ashton at the weekend or what?!?! jonny was poor but so were loads of his team-mates. vainikolo, vickery, borthwick, balshaw, flood, noon. all those guys must have had butterflies over that team sheet and know they're damned lucky to have made the line-up for Saturday. vickery even said as much.

[James Gill]

Good change but not enough. I'd go with: Lewsey, Cueto, Tait, Barkley, Sackey, Cipriani, Wigglesworth, Sheridan, Hartley, Stevens, Croft, Shaw, Rees, Haskell, Easter. That would so, so sort out Ireland.